Pottsville mayor addresses budget in state of city speech

After delivering what he said was his final State of the City speech, Pottsville Mayor John D.W. Reiley summed up the toughest challenge his successor will face.

"Revenues," said Reiley, 77, a Democrat who has been mayor since 2000.

Reiley's son, the late Terrence P. "Terry" Reiley, served as mayor from 1998 until he lost a 4 1/2-year battle with leukemia in February 2000. Reiley was initially appointed to the post in 2000, and he went on to win mayoral elections in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

"A lot of funds are drying up. With our federal CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds, it seems like they're cutting them back every year, and when you receive those funds, it's not a blank check. There are parameters. So you have to know all about that. It's always a challenge," Reiley said.

In January, Reiley announced he won't be running for re-election.

The crowd of 65 in City Hall council chambers included members of the council, former U.S. Rep. Tim Holden and members of Reiley's family, including his granddaughter, Caitlin M. Reiley-Goodman, 18, a senior at Pottsville Area High School.

Department of Public Affairs

Last year, Reiley declared war on blight, with a plan of action, a ticketing program and a team, the Pottsville Blight Task Force.

"This long-term initiative will make a difference in our community. It is our hope that we increase property values, encourage community investment and increase the quality of life in Pottsville," Reiley said.

To date, the task force has identified 355 blighted or vacant properties and is making an effort to grade and create a data base to keep tabs on them.

"This is when the challenging work will actually begin. We will rely upon the entire community, our city resources, our judicial system and legislative delegation as we develop an action plan for each property. We will utilize the tools at our disposal to fight blight," Reiley said.

City police

In 2012, the Pottsville Bureau of Police investigated 9,848 incidents and 1,392 crimes, Reiley said. "And 73 percent of those crimes were solved," Reiley said. The police also made 1,166 arrests.

The city fire department responded to 526 alarms in 2012, a decrease of 27 from 2011. Fire losses in 2012 were $855,650, a decrease of $322,655 from 2011, Reiley said.

"Fire Chief Todd March and the four assistant fire chiefs answered over 262 fire-related complaints from city residents in 2012. In 2012, a Public Protection Classification Survey was completed. The city's rating remained a Class 4, which is a high rating for a volunteer fire department. This rating determines the fire insurance premiums that residents and business owners in the city must pay," Reiley said.

Department of Accounts and Finance

This year, City Clerk Julie D. Rescorla and her staff will work toward acquiring new computer software intended to make the city's operations more efficient and user-friendly, Reiley said.

"As costs escalate in almost every area of the city's operation, it is essential to monitor expenses in a proactive and vigilant manner," Reiley said.

Department of Streets

Street repairs were a priority in 2012 and Reiley mentioned a few: 517 tons of material was used to pave Greenwood Avenue to Washington Street and 557 tons were used to pave Schuylkill Manor Road, East Norwegian Street from Progress Avenue to Route 61, Arch Street from Progress Avenue to Route 61 and Greenbriar Road to Stine Street.

He also mentioned the traffic signal upgrade at 12th and Market streets.

In 2012, the street department responded to 3,300 citizen requests, including yard waste pickup and repairs to potholes, storm drains, playgrounds and signs.

In closing

Reiley ended his 20-minute speech with a prayer for the future: "In closing, I ask all to join us in City Hall in making Pottsville work. Let it be a promise to turn the love we share for Pottsville into the hard work to strengthen it. Thank you again for your attendance and may God bless American, may God bless our Commonwealth and may God bless the City of Pottsville."

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